Fluid system for moving subsurface well equipment in well tubing

ABSTRACT

A fluid system for running and retrieving subsurface well equipment in a well tubing by fluid flow through an upper entrance tubing. The upper entrance tubing includes curved portions and includes first and second conduits of different sizes. Both of the conduits have an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the well tubing with the first size conduit being larger than the second size conduit and being positioned in the upper tubing at curved portions of the upper tubing to allow passage of lengthy well equipment through the upper entrance tubing. First and second locomotives having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the second size conduit, and a third locomotive having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the well tubing and releasably connected to the other locomotives for being carried to and moved in the well tubing in response to fluid flow. The locomotives being spaced from each other whereby one of the locomotives will always be in a conduit of a size corresponding to the one locomotive to provide movement of the locomotives by fluid through the tubing. The first size conduit including elbows with the first and second locomotives spaced from each other a distance greater than the axial extent of said elbows.

United States Patent [191 McGowen, Jr.

1111 3,771,597 [451 Nov. 13, 1973 FLUID SYSTEM FOR MOVING SUBSURFACE WELL EQUIPMENT IN WELL TUBING [75] Inventor: Harold E. McGowen, Jr., Houston,

Tex.

[73] Assignee: Cameo, Incorporated, Houston, Tex.

[22] Filed: Sept. 11, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 287,692

Primary Examiner-Stephen]. Novosad Attorney-James F. Weiler et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A fluid system for running and retrieving subsurface well equipment in a well tubing by fluid flow through an upper entrance tubing. The upper entrance tubing includes curved portions and includes first and second.

conduits of different sizes. Both of the conduits have an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the well tubing with the first size conduit being larger than the second size conduit and being positioned in the upper tubing at curved portions of the upper tubing to allow passage of lengthy well equipment through the upper entrance tubing. First and second locomotives having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the second size conduit, and a third locomotive having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the well tubing and releasably connected to the other 10- comotives for being carried to and moved in the well tubing in response to fluid flow. The locomotives being spaced from each other whereby one of the 10- comotives will always be in a conduit of a size corresponding to the one locomotive to provide movement of the locomotives by fluid through the tubing. The first size conduit including elbows with the first and second locomotives spaced from each other a distance greater than the axial extent of said elbows.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures United States Patent 1 [111 3,771,597

McGowen, Jr. Nov. 13, 1973 Patented Nov. 13, 1973 3,771,597

2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Nov. 13, 1973 3,771,597

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nun-un-ll-ll- BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is conventional to run and pull subsurface well equipment from a well tubing and perform other subsurface operations by the use of pump-in piston-like devices generally referred to as locomotives. Generally, the subsurface equipment is pumped through an upper entrance loop including curved portions and connected to the top of the well tubing. The curved portions of the upper entrance tubing greatly limits the allowable length of a given diameter well tool that may freely pass the loop. Copending Pat. application Ser. No. 208,339, filed Dec. 15, 1971, and now US. Pat. No. 3,727,693, discloses a pump-in system for moving subsurface well equipment into and out of a well tubing through an upper curved entrance tubing having an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the well tool.

The present invention is directed to an improved pumping system for moving subsurface well equipment into and out of the well tubing through an upper tubing having curved portions which allows the use of maximum longitudinal length of tools while at the same time providing an upper entrance tubing of a size that is more easily installed.

SUMMARY The present invention is directed to an improved pumping system for moving subsurface well equipment through an upper tubing having curved and straight portions and into the well tubing by providing the upper entrance tubing with two sizes of conduits both of which are larger than the well tubing. The larger size conduit is positioned at curved portions such as elbows and loops of the upper tubing whereby well tools of greater longitudinal length may pass through the curved portion. The second smaller size conduit, which may be more easily handled and installed, is utilized in straight portions of the upper tubing.

However, the locomotives carrying the well equipment must necessarily be of suitable dimensions and suitably positioned to allow them to be pumped through a tubing of various sizes. Therefore, another object of the present invention is to provide locomotives spaced from each other whereby one of the locomotives will always be in a conduit of a size corresponding to the one locomotive to provide movement of the locomotives and well tools through the tubing by fluid movement.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of a pumping system having an upper tubing connected to the well tubing having first and second different sized conduits with the first larger size conduit positioned at the elbows in the tubing and with the first and second locomotives spaced from each other a distance greater than the axial extent of the elbows and sized to be moved through the second smaller sized conduit.

Yet a further object is the provision of third and fourth locomotives sized to be pumped through the well tubing and spaced from each other a distance sufficient so that the third and fourth locomotives may pass through any mandrels in the well tubing.

Still a further object is the provision of a retaining nipple in the upper tubing for retaining a larger locomotive but allowing the passage of a small locomotive into the well tubing and a fluid bypass upstream of the retaining nipple for allowing fluid to bypass a large second locomotive positioned upstream of the retaining nipple.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view illustrating the present invention moving through an upper tubing having curved portions and into the well tubing,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, partly in cross section, illustrating the releasable connection between one locomotive and another locomotive, and shows the locomotives in position for releasing from each other and the connection of the larger locomotive to a retaining nipple, and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, partly in cross section, illustrating another embodiment of the present invention moving a well tool into the well tubing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, it is conventional to run and pull subsurface well equipment in a well tubing 12 through an upper tubing generally indicated by the reference numeral 14 which may include one or more curved portions 16 from an offshore/gas platform (not shown) as generally described in copending application Ser. No. 208,339. This is normally accomplished by pumping equipment down and up the tubing 12 by a pair of hydraulic lines (only one of which is shown for convenience) by piston-like devices called locomotives. I

In the past, the radius of the curved portions 16 greatly limited the longitudinal length of a given diameter well tool that could freely pass through the upper tubing. However, as disclosed in copending Pat. application Ser. No. 208,339, a conventional 2 inch tubing will pass a 1% inch 0.d. well tool having a longitudinal length of 15.52 inches around an elbow while a 4 inch pipe will pass a well tool 34.64 inches long through an elbow. Therefore, the prior application taught the use of utilizing a larger upper tubing for conducting longer well tools to the smaller well tubing 12.

However, in practice, larger conduits, such as 4 inch conduits are more difficult to install, harder to handle, and more expensive. Therefore, the present invention is directed to a pump-down system in which the upper tubing 14 includes first and second conduits of different sizes such as conduits l8 and'20, both of which have an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the 'well tubing l2. The first size conduit 18 is larger than the secondsize conduit 20 with the first size conduit positioned in the upper tubing 14fat the curved portions 16 of the upper tubing. The second conduits 20 are positioned in the straight portions 22 of the upper tubing l4.-By way of example only, assuming that the well tubing 12 is a conventional 2 inch 0.11. pipe, the first conduit 18 is preferably a conventional 4 inch 0.11. pipe whereby well tools of greater longitudinal length may pass through the'curved portions of the upper tubing 14. The second conduit 20 is preferably a 3 inch o.d. conventional pipe in the straight portions of the upper tubing 14, which would not limit the longitudinal length of well tools, butwould providean installation which would be simpler to install and less expenslve.

Therefore, the present invention is directed to providing, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, an upper tubing 14 having first size conduits 18 and a second size conduit 20 both of which have an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the well tubing 12 thereby allowing the passage of well tools, for example only, a gas lift valve carried by a normal setting tool which may pass through the curves and loops in the upper tubing 14. For example only, as best seen in FIG. 3, conventional equipment such as weight bars 26, knuckle joint 28 and/or other suitable equipment, such as a well tool 20, may be moved in either direction through the tubing 14 for insertion into and removal from the well tubing 12. However, the locomotives must be properly sized and properly positioned in order that a seal may be maintained between the internal diameter of the tubing and the outside diameter of at least one of the locomotives for pumping the locomotives and the well tools through the tubing.

In order to pump equipment through the upper tubing 14 first and second locomotives 30 and 32 are provided which have an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the second size conduit 20. Therefore, the locomotives 30 and 32 may be conventionally pumped through the straight tubing sections 22 having the second size conduit 20. Since the first and second locomotives 30 and 32 are properly sized for fluid movement through the straight conduit sections 20 they would be undersized when positioned in the larger first size conduit 18. Since the upper tubing 14 may include a plurality of curved sections having elbows 44 or loops 42 made of the first size or larger size tubing 18, the locomotives 30 and 32 are spaced apart a distance more than the axial extent of the elbows 44 in order that one of the locomotives 30 and 32 will always be positioned in a straight section 22 to provide the fluid motive force to move equipment when the other locomotive is in one of the enlarged conduit elbows 44 and subject to fluid bypass.

A third locomotive 34 is provided having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the well tubing 12 for movement in the well tubing in response to fluid flow in the well tubing 12. The third locomotive 34 is releasably connected to the locomotives 30 and 32 and support the additional well equip ment previously described. In addition, a fourth locomotive 36 may be provided if desired similarly sized to the third locomotive 34 for movement in the well tubing 12. The fourth locomotive 36 would be spaced from the third locomotive a distance sufficient so that the third and fourth locomotives 34 and 36 could pass by any mandrels 38 that may be positioned in the well tubing 12 whereas, a single well tubing locomotive may become stuck in the mandrel 38 as fluid is allowed to bypass the locomotive in this position.

The third locomotive 34 which is connected to and carries the well tool 20 through the well tubing 12 is releasably connected to locomotives 30 and 32. The'locomotive 34 is carried through the upper tubing 14 by the locomotives 30 and 32 until a retaining nipple 40 is encountered after which the locomotives 34 and 36 are disconnected from the locomotives 30 and 32 and may be pumped down the well tubing 12 as is conventional to perform conventional running and pulling operations as well as other well services. Thereafter, the

locomotives 34 and 36 may be pumped uphole through the well tubing 12 and reconnected to the locomotives 30 and 32 and the entire assembly pumped up through the curved tubing 14 to an oil rig (not shown). However, as best seen in FIG. 1, if the retaining nipple 40 is positioned at the downstream end of a loop 42, which is frequently provided in pump-down operations, the first and second locomotives 30 and 32 cannot be pumped through the loop 42 because their outside diameter is less than the inside diameter of the loop 42 and fluid will bypass the locomotives 30 and 32 instead of pumping them. Because of the three different sizes of conduit in the present system, it'is necessary that at least one locomotive always be in its corresponding sized conduit in order to provide the necessary pumping action. As best seen in FIG. 1, since the distance between first locomotive 30 and 32 is, in the embodiment shown, less than axial extent of the loop 42, at least one of the third or fourth locomotives 34 and 36 must reach and coact with the well tubing 12 before the second locomotive 32 leaves the straight section 22 immediately preceding the loop 42.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the retaining nipple 40 may be positioned upstream of the loop 42 in which case the second locomotive 32 when parked, as shown, in the straight line 20, would block further fluid communication through the upper loop 14. Therefore, a fluid bypass 46 is provided in which the second locomotive 32 is positioned when the retaining nipple 40 is reached by the first locomotive 30.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the structure of the releasable connection, which has been previously described in connection with application Ser. No. 208,339, between the first locomotive 30 and the third locomotive 34 is best seen. The first locomotive 30 generally includes a body 50 having a sealing means (not shown in FIG. 2) thereon sized for being propelled through conduit sections 20 by fluid pressure. A locking dog 52 is pivotally connected to the body by a pin 54. The third locomotive 34 also includes a body 56 having a sealing member 58 thereon sized for coaction with the internal diameter of the well tubing 12 for movement therein in response to fluid flow. The third locomotive 34 includes a groove 60. First locomotive 34 is positively latched to the third locomotive 34 by the action of the shoulder 62 of the locking dog 52 coacting with the groove 60 of the second locomotive 34. The locking dog 52 is held in the locking position by the sliding sleeve 64 yieldably urged against the locking dog 52 by the spring 66. Thus, the first piston 30 may be pumped through the upper tubing 14 upwardly or downwardly and carries the third locomotive 34 and any attached equipment when the locking dog 52 is engaged in the groove 60.

And as further described in Pat. application Ser. No. 208,339, the retaining nipple 40 assists in performing the function of releasing the third locomotive 34 from the first locomotive 30 when the sleeve 64 contacts the nipple 40 and releases the dog 52. Furthermore, the retaining nipple 40 retains the first nipple within the nipple 40 after releasing the third locomotive 34 when the dog 52 engages the recess in the nipple 40. Therefore, the first locomotive 34 is kept in position in the nipple 40 to receive the third locomotive 34 on its return up the well tubing 12 when fluid circulation therethrough isreversed for reengagement with the first locomotive 30 and transportation back through the upper tubing 14.

The first locomotive 30 includes an open bore 70 which is normally blocked when the third locomotive 34 is connected to the first locomotive 30, but which is open when the second locomotive 34 is released, thereby allowing fluid flow through the locomotive 30 to propel the third locomotive 34 down and up the well bore 12.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for runnign and retrieving subsurface well equipment in a well tubing by fluid flow through an upper tubing connected to the upper end of the well tubing, the improvement comprising,

' said upper tubing having first and second conduits of different sizes, and both of said conduits having an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the well tubing,

the first size conduit being larger than the second size conduit, and being positioned in the upper tubing at curved portions of the upper tubing and said second size conduit being positioned in straight portions of said upper tubing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including, a retaining nipple in the tubing for retaining a large locomotive but allowing the passage of a small locomotive into the well tubing, and

a fluid bypass upstream of said retaining nipple for allowing fluid to bypass a large locomotive positioned upstream of the retaining nipple.

3. An apparatus for running and retrieving subsurface well equipment in a well tubing by fluid flow through an upper tubing having curved and straight portions connected to the upper end of the well tubing comprising,

said upper tubing having first and second conduits of different sizes and both sized conduits having an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the well tubing,

the first size conduit being larger than the second size conduit and being positioned in the upper tubing at curved portions of said upper tubing,

first and second locomotives having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the second size conduit,

a third locomotive having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the well tubing and releasably connected to said other locomotives for movement in the well tubing in response to fluid flow, and

said locomotives spaced from each other whereby one of the locomotives will always be in a conduit of a size corresponding to the locomotives for movement of the locomotives through the tubings.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first sized conduit includes elbows and the first and second locomotives are spaced from each other a distance greater than the axial extent of said elbows.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 including,

a fourth locomotive having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the well tubing and connected to the third locomotive, but spaced from the third locomotive a distance sufficient for the third and fourth locomotives to pass by any mandrels in the well tubing.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the well tubing is 2 inch conduit, the first conduit is 4 inch conduit, and the second conduit is 3 inch conduit.

7. An apparatus for running and retrieving subsurface well equipment in a well tubing by fluid flow through an upper tubing having curved and straight portions connected to the upper end of the well tubing comprising,

said upper tubing having first and second conduits of different sizes and both sized conduits having an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the well tubing,

the first size conduit being larger than the second size conduit and being positioned in the upper tubing as elbows at curved portions of said upper tubing,

first and second locomotives having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the second size conduit, said first and second locomotives being connected together but spaced from each other a distance greater than the axial extent of said elbows, and third locomotive having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the well tubing releasably connected to said other locomotives for movement in the well tubing in response to said fluid flow. 

1. In an apparatus for runnign and retrieving subsurface well equipment in a well tubing by fluid flow through an upper tubing connected to the upper end of the well tubing, the improvement comprising, said upper tubing having first and second conduits of different sizes, and both of said conduits having an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the well tubing, the first size conduit being larger than the second size conduit, and being positioned in the upper tubing at curved portions of the upper tubing and said second size conduit being positioned in straight portions of said upper tubing.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 including, a retaining nipple in the tubing for retaining a large locomotive but allowing the passage of a small locomotive into the well tubing, and a fluid bypass upstream of said retaining nipple for allowing fluid to bypass a large locomotive positioned upstream of the retaining nipple.
 3. An apparatus for running and retrieving subsurface well equipment in a well tubing by fluid flow through an upper tubing having curved and straight portions connected to the upper end of the well tubing comprising, said upper tubing having first and second conduits of different sizes and both sized conduits having an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the well tubing, the first size conduit being larger than the second size conduit and being positioned in the upper tubing at curved portions of said upper tubing, first and second locomotives having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the second size conduit, a third locomotive having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the well tubing and releasably connected to said other locomotives for movement in the well tubing in response to fluid flow, and said locomotives spaced from each other whereby one of the locomotives will always be in a conduit of a size corresponding to the locomotives for movement of the locomotives through the tubings.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first sized conduit includes elbows and the first and second locomotives are spaced from each other a distance greater than the axial extent of said elbows.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3 including, a fourth locomotive having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the well tubing and connected to the third locomotive, but spaced from the third locomotive a distance sufficient for the third and fourth locomotives to pass by any mandrels in the well tubing.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the well tubing is 2 inch conduit, the first conduit is 4 inch conduit, and the second conduit is 3 inch conduit.
 7. An apparatus for running and retrieving subsurface well equipment in a well tubing by fluid flow through an upper tubing having curved and straight portions connected to the upper end of the well tubing comprising, said upper tubing having first and second conduits of different sizes and both sized conduits having an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the well tubing, the first size conduit being larger than the second size conduit and being positioned in the upper tubing as elbows at curved portions of said upper tubing, first and second locomotives having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the second size conduit, said first and second locomotives being connected together but spaced from each other a distance greater than the axial extent of said elbows, and a third locomotive having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the well tubing releasably connected to said other locomOtives for movement in the well tubing in response to said fluid flow. 